Borderlands 3: Moxxi’s Heist of the Handsome Jackpot Review

Moxxi’s Heist of the Handsome Jackpot is the first DLC (of four) for Borderlands 3. I certainly enjoyed myself with the third part of the Borderlands saga and I still do, despite the Calypso Twins being a disappointment as major culprits. It’s good that developer Gearbox Software continues to support the game with updates and DLC, so you have a reason to return to the game.

Certainly, if you have eliminated the Calypso Twins and become king of the Circles of Slaughter, you probably want a new challenge. Is Borderlands 3: Moxxi’s Heist of the Handsome Jackpot a good and fun expansion or is it not worth spending your money? Here is my review!

MOXXI’S, JACK’S OR PRETTY BOY’S CASINO?

Moxxi had an idea for a casino in space, but Jack couldn’t help but steal this idea and therefore build his own casino. His philosophy: lure everyone with a lot of money and a spaceship to the casino. Then you ensure that they get into debt by gambling all their money and you confiscate their ship.

For example, they are actually prisoners of the casino and if they have complaints, they can resolve that with Jack themselves. Never a good idea if you want to stay alive. Handsome Jack has been dead for seven years now, but he still exerts some negative influence because everyone has been locked up there since his death.

Moxxi has found the location of Handsome Jack’s casino and wants to go inside. She asks if you want to help her to reap the benefits of her own idea and take over the casino with her. Only the residents of the casino did not stand still after Jack’s demise. Someone has stood up to take over and run with the hard hand. Maybe as an homage, but more likely they saw their opportunity and seized it.

Pretty Boy has become the new boss of the casino and he is trying to take over the entire planet. He sits in the Tower of the casino and is aware of your plans and tries to stop you with all the men and robots he can find. Fortunately, as an experienced Vault Hunter you are used to trouble and you can handle a lot of enemies.

EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE WITH A GOOD CREW

To ensure that the casino is up and running and therefore Moxxi’s plan has some success, you must put together a crew before you can get started. This is done nicely and is reminiscent of Ocean’s Eleven. Although your crew is less flashy, they are even crazier than Danny Ocean’s friends.

That is why your crew members are all figures that you would not normally want to have in your group of friends. Fortunately, they do offer some entertainment with their weak geo-whore and help you to enter the casino. Just like in Borderlands 3, the reactions of the Vault Hunter to certain situations are quite funny.

The crew consists of: Timothy Lawrence from Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel and he is a Handsome Jack body double who has been imprisoned there for seven years. He may well be harmless, but because he has Jack’s DNA in him, he can sometimes surprise you unexpectedly.

Ember is an exotic dancer and has a dangerous obsession with fire, but luckily you can help her light up the planet. Freddie is a hacker who got stuck in the 80s, but can give robots a new life. In addition, the Marxist mayor of the dump site under the casino helps you because of his hatred of Pretty Boy.

Everyone contributes something so that you can knock Pretty Boy off the throne and get the loot together with Moxxi. Oh yes, and of course free the people from a bad man that thinks he’s in charge.

IT REMAINS BORDERLANDS

The gameplay is similar to what you are used to in Borderlands 3. So far I have not encountered anything special or spectacular in terms of assignments, enemies or surroundings. Just start an assignment, collect items for NPCs, finish everyone you meet, and move on to the next assignment.

In principle, there is nothing wrong with that, but the DLC offers nothing new in terms of gameplay with a special move or something like that. Again, there is nothing wrong with that, because the DLC is entertaining, but some innovation or variation would be nice.

The new planet looks great with many colors and details. Only the environments of the world do not really offer anything new, but it looks like what you know from Borderlands 3. That is the negative part in terms of originality. It is also nice to see Handsome Jack again, because he was the star in the second part.

Jack’s body double and some holograms also give you the feeling that Jack is still there. What the Moxxi-DLC certainly does good are the drops of the enemies that often provide good weapons. These may be better than Pandora, but there is still a doubt.

I found quite a lot of weapons that I will definitely test on Pandora if I go for the trophies. The weapons and equipment that are in the boxes and vending machines are also of good quality. It remains fun to try out new weapons and see how they injure the enemies. At least if you take your work as a Vault Hunter seriously.

CONCLUSION

Your crew consists of special characters that are sometimes funny and perhaps more important; they are not disturbing or irritating. The enemies and the world don’t bring much news, but it all looks very good. Fortunately the drops of the enemies and the equipment that you can buy are of good quality.

I hope that with the following DLC ​​(s) Gearbox Software will try something new in terms of theme, world or enemies. We know that the formula works and that this results in an entertaining game and first DLC. Please surprise us with something new in the next DLC!

Have you tried Borderlands 3: Moxxi’s Heist of the Handsome Jackpot, Borderlands 3, or any of the other Borderlands games? What do you think? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.

If you want more of the popular series, check out our reviews for Borderlands 2 and Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel.